Rigas appeal rejected

An appeals court has let stand the convictions of Adelphia’s John and Timothy J. Rigas, on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan reversed its conviction on a single lesser count. The elder Rigas was sentenced to 15 years in prison, his son to 20 years.

The legal team for the two argued that the Rigases had properly followed accounting rules, and that those rules were not explained to the jury.

"Defendants are wrong," the Manhattan appeals court wrote. "In our view, most - if not all - of the evidence at issue was properly admitted, and any error was harmless."